By Sarah Bell BBC News David in the Sarawak Times in 1959
By Sarah Bell BBC News David in the Sarawak Times in 1959
Fifty years ago a naive but enthusiastic school leaver arrived in Borneo to teach pupils older than him. Aged 18, David Brown was unwittingly the pioneer for Voluntary Service Overseas.
Fifty years ago a naive but enthusiastic school leaver arrived in Borneo to teach pupils older than him. Aged 18, David Brown was unwittingly the pioneer for Voluntary Service Overseas.
In 1958, all that was required to volunteer overseas was a healthy dose of youthful enthusiasm, a few jabs and a plane ticket. Today, prospective volunteers undergo a tough nine-month selection process before being sent abroad to share their skills.
In 1958, all that was required to volunteer overseas was a healthy dose of youthful enthusiasm, a few jabs and a plane ticket. Today, prospective volunteers undergo a tough nine-month selection process before being sent abroad to share their skills.
David Brown first showed an interest in helping the needy when the Bishop of Borneo visited his Wiltshire boarding school and gave a slideshow to help tempt young men to work abroad.
David Brown first showed an interest in helping the needy when the Bishop of Borneo visited his Wiltshire boarding school and gave a slideshow to help tempt young men to work abroad.
"Three weeks later a letter from the bishop arrived saying I was to get my plane ticket from the travel agent, and before you go, have these injections. That was it. It didn't ask if I wanted to go," Mr Brown recalls.
"Three weeks later a letter from the bishop arrived saying I was to get my plane ticket from the travel agent, and before you go, have these injections. That was it. It didn't ask if I wanted to go," Mr Brown recalls.
His ticket arrived with no further information, followed by a postcard from the bishop saying his brother, a retired Army man, would meet him at London Airport to bid him farewell. VSO in 1958 Average age: 18Number abroad: 12Number of countries: fourActivities: teaching, healthcare
His ticket arrived with no further information, followed by a postcard from the bishop saying his brother, a retired Army man, would meet him at London Airport to bid him farewell. VSO in 1958 Average age: 18Number abroad: 12Number of countries: fourActivities: teaching, healthcare
Mr Brown didn't know what to expect when he set off on 19 May 1958 - about six weeks after leaving school - as his preparation had mainly involved watching the Bridge on the River Kwai.
Mr Brown didn't know what to expect when he set off on 19 May 1958 - about six weeks after leaving school - as his preparation had mainly involved watching the Bridge on the River Kwai.
"It was the first time I had been abroad, and the first time I had been on a plane. I left boarding school and within five weeks I was standing in front of a class," he says.
"It was the first time I had been abroad, and the first time I had been on a plane. I left boarding school and within five weeks I was standing in front of a class," he says.
By the end of the year, 13 school leavers had been sent to work in Borneo and Africa by the bishop and the charity's founder, former education officer, Alec Dickson.
By the end of the year, 13 school leavers had been sent to work in Borneo and Africa by the bishop and the charity's founder, former education officer, Alec Dickson.
Mr Brown, who runs a publishing company in Oxford, believes he had not been particularly carefully chosen for his mission.
Mr Brown, who runs a publishing company in Oxford, believes he had not been particularly carefully chosen for his 19-month-long mission.
"The bishop had clearly jumped the gun by sending me out. The next set of people who came out in September had been through a rigorous selection process, but with me they sent the first man who came along.
"The bishop had clearly jumped the gun by sending me out. The next set of people who came out in September had been through a rigorous selection process, but with me they sent the first man who came along.
"He wanted to get the system going and I found out later he had paid for the plane ticket himself, it cost £216. In 1958 you could buy a house for that."
"He wanted to get the system going and I found out later he had paid for the plane ticket himself, it cost £216. In 1958 you could buy a house for that."
Colonial obligation
Colonial obligation
Mr Brown, 68, was placed in St Luke's missionary school in a town called Simanggang in Sarawak, now part of Malaysia, because their teacher was being sent to England for training. The bishop had paid for the plane ticket himself, it cost £216 - in 1958 you could buy a house for that David Brown
Mr Brown, 68, was placed in St Luke's missionary school in a town called Simanggang in Sarawak, now part of Malaysia, because their teacher was being sent to England for training. The bishop had paid for the plane ticket himself, it cost £216 - in 1958 you could buy a house for that David Brown
A priest who had run the missionary since 1926 presided over the school. "He didn't know what on earth I was for, a young man, turning up there when I wasn't trained," he says.
A priest who had run the missionary since 1926 presided over the school. "He didn't know what on earth I was for, a young man, turning up there when I wasn't trained," he says.
He taught English, maths, geography and history, at a level which he estimates was about a year below GCSE standards.
He taught English, maths, geography and history, at a level which he estimates was about a year below GCSE standards.
"I had never stood in front of a class before. Some of the pupils were my age, the average age was 20. But they were all very keen to learn."
"I had never stood in front of a class before. Some of the pupils were my age, the average age was 20. But they were all very keen to learn."
Mr Brown shared a house with another teacher and soon became used to a diet of rice, three times a day, eaten with his fingers.
Mr Brown shared a house with another teacher and soon became used to a diet of rice, three times a day, eaten with his fingers.
There were only six or seven other white people in the town, among them a doctor, engineer and policeman. "I think they viewed me with some amusement."
There were only six or seven other white people in the town, among them a doctor, engineer and policeman. "I think they viewed me with some amusement."
He was paid £5 a week and mainly played with the children in his free time. "They were curious about me and always wanted to play football."
He was paid £5 a week and mainly played with the children in his free time. "They were curious about me and always wanted to play football."
On reflection, he questions how valuable the first volunteers were in their placements.
On reflection, he questions how valuable the first volunteers were in their placements.
"We were all inexperienced and clearly of limited use to the places we went to. The people who go now, they really put me to shame."
"We were all inexperienced and clearly of limited use to the places we went to. The people who go now, they really put me to shame."
The average age of volunteers now is 41, and include small business advisors, teachers, social workers, health professionals, marine biologists, accountants and farmers.
The average age of volunteers now is 41, and include small business advisors, teachers, social workers, health professionals, marine biologists, accountants and farmers.
This reflects how the delivery of aid work in the developing world has vastly changed in the 50 years since school leavers were first put on planes. VSO 2008 Average age: 41Number abroad: 1,500Number of countries: 34Activities: from management consultants to marine biologists
This reflects how the delivery of aid work in the developing world has vastly changed in the 50 years since school leavers were first put on planes. VSO 2008 Average age: 41Number abroad: 1,500Number of countries: 34Activities: from management consultants to marine biologists
VSO chief executive Mark Goldring says that his organisation's founding vision was the British had something to give to the rest of the world.
VSO chief executive Mark Goldring says that his organisation's founding vision was the British had something to give to the rest of the world.
"This was very relevant to the post-colonial 1950s and 60s world where the shortage of educated people in the developing world was massive."
"This was very relevant to the post-colonial 1950s and 60s world where the shortage of educated people in the developing world was massive."
Its founders also believed the experience would help shape the young men it sent abroad into leaders of the future. This worked, with many going on to become cabinet ministers and captains of industry.
Its founders also believed the experience would help shape the young men it sent abroad into leaders of the future. This worked, with many going on to become cabinet ministers and captains of industry.
Over its 50 years, the organisation has evolved to meet the needs of a world which is very different.
Over its 50 years, the organisation has evolved to meet the needs of a world which is very different.
"Most developing countries have enough educated school-leavers and graduates, so now the organisation enlists people with skills which can support the development of their own professional organisations," Mr Goldring says.
"Most developing countries have enough educated school-leavers and graduates, so now the organisation enlists people with skills which can support the development of their own professional organisations," Mr Goldring says.
"The focus now is on sharing skills for future professionals rather than providing immediate services."
"The focus now is on sharing skills for future professionals rather than providing immediate services."
It also now recruits from Asia and Africa. "Someone who has worked with Aids in Uganda may have skills which are more useful in Cambodia than someone who has worked in the UK," he says.
It also now recruits from Asia and Africa. "Someone who has worked with Aids in Uganda may have skills which are more useful in Cambodia than someone who has worked in the UK," he says.
Meanwhile, Mr Brown remains modest about his status as the organisation's pioneer.
Meanwhile, Mr Brown remains modest about his status as the organisation's pioneer.
"At the time I didn't know I was the first person and it wasn't even called the VSO then. I was just going on the adventure of a lifetime."
"At the time I didn't know I was the first person and it wasn't even called the VSO then. I was just going on the adventure of a lifetime."
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Interesting comment on the times - a plane ticket at £216 the same price as a house but paid £250 per annum (£5 /week) as a volunteer. Where could you buy a house for less than a year's salary nowadays assuming that £5 then was not a fortune for a first job.Garry Rucklidge, Oldmeldrum
Interesting comment on the times - a plane ticket at £216 the same price as a house but paid £250 per annum (£5 /week) as a volunteer. Where could you buy a house for less than a year's salary nowadays assuming that £5 then was not a fortune for a first job.Garry Rucklidge, Oldmeldrum
In the 60s those who expressed interest were guided to IVS - International Voluntary Services - rather than VSO if they were qualified. I had qualified as an accountant by 1968 and was lucky enough to get to Botswana for two years, helping to teach accountants in government departments for the first year from Gaberone, the capital, then in Mochudi, where McCall Smith has set the heroine of his No.1 Detective Series. It's amusing to put the cursor on to a thatched rondavel on one the detective agency tour, and see "The home of Mma Ramotswe?" It looks like the one I used to live in.Rod Coustan, Buckfastleigh, Devon
In the 60s those who expressed interest were guided to IVS - International Voluntary Services - rather than VSO if they were qualified. I had qualified as an accountant by 1968 and was lucky enough to get to Botswana for two years, helping to teach accountants in government departments for the first year from Gaberone, the capital, then in Mochudi, where McCall Smith has set the heroine of his No.1 Detective Series. It's amusing to put the cursor on to a thatched rondavel on one the detective agency tour, and see "The home of Mma Ramotswe?" It looks like the one I used to live in.Rod Coustan, Buckfastleigh, Devon
After completing Police Cadets and before joining the force in full, my father, in 1969, aged 17 or 18, travelled to the then named British Solomon Is. Where he stayed for over a year. He was down to help with DDT to kill flies and prevent malaria, however he spent all his time building roads on small islands. He has hundreds of slides, he still regards it as the best time in his life.Max Allen, West Bridgford, Notts
After completing Police Cadets and before joining the force in full, my father, in 1969, aged 17 or 18, travelled to the then named British Solomon Is. Where he stayed for over a year. He was down to help with DDT to kill flies and prevent malaria, however he spent all his time building roads on small islands. He has hundreds of slides, he still regards it as the best time in his life.Max Allen, West Bridgford, Notts
I went abroad for the first time 20 years after David in 1978 to Kuwait, not for VSO but for Bovis International who were building a water pipeline there. I was 21 but had been in a Northern Gas drawing office for four years and wanted to see the world and also earn a higher salary. I stayed there for 12 months, after which I worked in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Qatar, until finally I ended up in Azerbaijan in 2002 where I still live and work. It has been a fantastic experience living and working with people whose lives and culture are so very different from my own. Wouldnt have changed a minute of it.David Grant, Baku, Azerbaijan
I went abroad for the first time 20 years after David in 1978 to Kuwait, not for VSO but for Bovis International who were building a water pipeline there. I was 21 but had been in a Northern Gas drawing office for four years and wanted to see the world and also earn a higher salary. I stayed there for 12 months, after which I worked in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Qatar, until finally I ended up in Azerbaijan in 2002 where I still live and work. It has been a fantastic experience living and working with people whose lives and culture are so very different from my own. Wouldnt have changed a minute of it.David Grant, Baku, Azerbaijan
From my own experience, it seems that the VSO scheme wasn't too dissimilar to the British Council's current programme of sending people to be language assistants in French schools.David, Southampton
From my own experience, it seems that the VSO scheme wasn't too dissimilar to the British Council's current programme of sending people to be language assistants in French schools.David, Southampton
It was really good to read that David Brown contributed his efforts in developing the community of a place where I came from. I myself have worked in Simanggang - officially known as Sri Aman - and it is a town with friendly people. I am not surprised that he could cope living with the locals. Thank you for sharing this.Benjamin Chong, Leeds
It was really good to read that David Brown contributed his efforts in developing the community of a place where I came from. I myself have worked in Simanggang - officially known as Sri Aman - and it is a town with friendly people. I am not surprised that he could cope living with the locals. Thank you for sharing this.Benjamin Chong, Leeds
I wasted over a year of life between June 2005 and July 2006 with a barrage of interviews, written and verbal tests and hundreds of forms to be finally accepted by VSO as a volunteer. I then received an assignment and quit my job in readiness. A few weeks prior to departure, I was notified that the funding arrangements in the host country had changed and the assignment was longer valid. In all I was offered five assignments, all of which turned out to be non-existent as a result VSO's inability to properly qualify the host organisation, during which time I was left without a job and completely demoralised by the whole affair.Gurinder Punn, Oxford
I wasted over a year of life between June 2005 and July 2006 with a barrage of interviews, written and verbal tests and hundreds of forms to be finally accepted by VSO as a volunteer. I then received an assignment and quit my job in readiness. A few weeks prior to departure, I was notified that the funding arrangements in the host country had changed and the assignment was longer valid. In all I was offered five assignments, all of which turned out to be non-existent as a result VSO's inability to properly qualify the host organisation, during which time I was left without a job and completely demoralised by the whole affair.Gurinder Punn, Oxford
